January 7, 2009 - The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) has reduced speed limits and expanded speed zones at Dunreith where a number of personal injury accidents have occurred in recent months. Signs are now in place that reduce the regulated State Road 3 speed limit from 55 mph to 45 mph beginning 4000 feet south of U.S. Highway 40 on the west side of town to the U.S. 40 intersection. Corresponding signage has been posted for 4000 feet north on the east side where S.R. 3 leaves U.S. 40 after a 3900-foot jog. Meanwhile, the 45 mph speed zone on U.S. 40 has been extended to include the west junction with S.R. 3.

“Motorists traveling on S.R. 3 or U.S. 40 though Dunreith must stay alert…especially during the New Year holiday,” states Brandye Hendrickson, Deputy Commissioner for INDOT’s Greenfield District. “Indiana State Police is vigorously enforcing the new speed limits. And altered traffic patterns make it imperative that motorists anticipate the S.R. 3 stop at U.S. 40.”

S.R. 3 was rerouted to allow removal of two aging structures on Indiana’s bridge watch list. For years, the bridges carried north-south traffic across U.S. 40 and an adjacent railroad track. Now, motorists must stop for continuous cross-traffic at the national road. Beyond speed restrictions, INDOT is taking the following actions in response to a recent in-depth traffic study:

*Move buzz strips for the south approach of S.R. 3 closer to the stop sign at U.S. 40, about 1,200 feet to the north of existing location.

*Add post delineators and tracking markings to assist the left turn from westbound U.S. 40 to southbound S.R. 3.